US 20070044395A1

(19) United States

(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2007/0044395 A1
Lu et al. (43) Pub. Date: Mar. 1, 2007
(54) SEISMIC ISOLATOR WITH VARIABLE (52) U.S. Cl. ............................................................ S2A167.4
CURVATURE

(76) Inventors: Lyan-Yvan Lu, Kaohsiung City (TW); (57) ABSTRACT

Ming-Hsiang Shih, Kaohsiung City
(TW)
A seismic isolator includes a slider, and a path with non
Correspondence Address:
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE fixed curvature; the path is positioned on a base; the slider
3458 ELLCOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUTE 101 is placed on the path, and bears the weight of a Super
ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21043 (US) structure; the path with non-fixed curvature can be a
smoothly curved surface; a layer of ductile material with
(21) Appl. No.: 11/209,632 high compressibility is mounted between the slider and the
(22) Filed: Aug. 24, 2005
path with non-fixed curvature;
-- - - -
therefore, when an earth
quake occurs, the slider will slide on the path with non-fixed
Publication Classification curvature to produce vibration isolation effect for the super
(51) Int. Cl. structure; loading capacity of the isolator increases, and
E04H 9/02 (2006.01) resonance between the isolator and low-frequency earth
E04B I/98 (2006.01) quakes is prevented.

2
Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 1 of 8 US 2007/0044395 A1
Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 2 of 8 US 2007/0044395 A1
Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 3 of 8 US 2007/0044395 A1
Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 5 of 8 US 2007/0044395 A1

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Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 6 of 8 US 2007/0044395 A1

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ground excitation freq(HZ)

FIG. 13
(PRIOR ART)
Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 7 of 8 US 2007/0044395 A1

FIG. 14
(PRIOR ART)
Patent Application Publication Mar. 1, 2007 Sheet 8 of 8 US 2007/0044395 A1

FIG - 15
(PRIOR ART)
US 2007/0044395 A1
SESMIC SOLATOR WITH VARIABLE
CURVATURE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
0001) 1. Field of the Invention
0002 The present invention relates to a seismic isolator
with variable curvature, more particularly one, which
doesn’t easily resonate with low-frequency earthquakes, and
has increased loading capacity, and can function more
effectively.
0003 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
0004. When an earthquake occurs, the violent ground
motion is the major reason that damages a structure. The
violent ground motion is passed on from the base of the
structure to the Super-structure. In seismic isolation technol
ogy, special isolation bearings are installed between the base
and the Super-structure to reduce the amount of movement
passed on from the ground to the Super-structure, thus
reducing the seismic force, to which the structure is Sub
jected. Common seismic isolation bearings are roughly
grouped into two types, namely, sliding bearings and elas
tomeric bearings.
0005 Friction pendulum system (FPS) is the most widely
used type of sliding bearings. Referring to FIG. 12, a sliding
bearing 3 includes a three-dimensional curved plate 31, and
a slider 32. The curved plate 31 is positioned on and fixed
to a base 33. The slider 32 bears the weight of a super
structure. When an earthquake occurs, the slider 32 will slide
back and forth on the curved surface of the curved plate 32.
When the slider 32 slides away from the center of the curved
plate 31, the weight of the super-structure will make the
bearing produce a restoring force that causes the slider
return to the center (lowermost point) of the curved surface,
thus reducing the post-earthquake residual displacement of
the isolation bearing. If friction is neglected, the forward and
backward sliding motion of the slider 32 on the curved plate
31 is the same as the motion of a pendulum. For a FPS
isolator, the isolation frequency only relates to the radius R
of curvature of the curved surface, and it doesn't relate to the
weight of the super-structure. Therefore, the isolation fre
quency of this kind of isolation system solely depends on the
radius of curvature of the curved surface. Furthermore, the
curvature of the friction surface of the slider 32 has to be the
same as the curvature of the curved plate 31 in order for the
slider 32 to closely contact with the curved surface of the
curve plate 31, thus preventing stress concentration.
0006 The above sliding bearing (FPS) has the sliding
curved Surface to provide restoring force, thus reducing the
post-earthquake residual displacement of the bearing as well
as reducing permanent location change of the structure.
However, when the above sliding bearing is put to practical
use, it is found that because the radius of curvature of the
curved surface is fixed, there will be a constant isolation
frequency, and resonance is very likely to happen if the
predominant frequency of the earthquake approximates to
the constant isolation frequency. FIG. 13 shows the fre
quency response function, a graph which shows the rela
tionship between the maximum structural acceleration and
the excitation frequency of the ground motion, of a fixed
base structure and of a sliding isolated structure. The hori
Zontal axis is the excitation frequency of the ground motion,
Mar. 1, 2007
the vertical axis the maximum structural acceleration, the
natural frequency of the structure 1.67 Hz, the isolation
frequency 0.4 Hz, and the friction coefficient is 0.1. From
FIG. 13, it can be seen that the sliding isolated structure will
be subjected to less earthquake effect than the fixed-base
structure when the excitation frequency approximates to the
natural frequency (1.67 Hz). However, it can also be found
that the structure with the sliding isolation system will be
subjected to even greater earthquake effect than the fixed
base when the excitation frequency is lower than 0.6 Hz.
And, significant resonance will occur, when the excitation
frequency approximates to the isolation frequency (0.4 Hz).
Therefore, we can conclude that a conventional sliding
isolation system can effectively reduce vibration only when
the excitation frequency is higher than the isolation fre
quency (0.4 Hz); a conventional sliding isolation system will
cause an adverse effect, when the earthquake contains low
frequency components. In other words, the vibration-reduc
ing effect of a conventional sliding isolation system depends
on the frequency content of earthquakes, and low-frequency
resonance may happen. Furthermore, recent theories and
experiments on seismic isolation technology have revealed
that sliding isolation systems can’t effectively reduce vibra
tion in a near-fault earthquake because it is affected by the
low-frequency pulse waves characterizing a near-fault earth
quake. Although pulse waves can only exert a transient
response of the structure, seismic isolated structures with a
fixed frequency still could cause resonance, and this fact
agrees with the phenomenon shown in FIG. 13.
0007. The followings are a review of some current appli
cations of sliding isolation technology:
0008 Referring to FIG. 14, a conventional sliding isola
tion includes a curved sliding Surface in contact with a slider,
which has a spherically curved shape with the same fixed
radius of curvature of the sliding surface. Therefore, the
isolation frequency is a fixed value, and resonance with a
low-frequency earthquake is likely to happen.
0009 Referring to FIG. 15, a conventional two-direc
tional rolling isolation system includes upper and lower
layers. Each layer consists of four rollers or wheels, which
roll on curved grooves. Because the rollers are in point
contact with the curved grooves, there can be material
damage caused by stress concentration. And, the system has
to be equipped with additional damping devices in order to
prevent excessive bearing displacement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
0010. It is the main objective of the invention to provide
a seismic isolator with variable curvature to overcome the
above-mentioned problems. The seismic isolator of the
present invention includes a slider, and a path with non-fixed
curvature. The path is placed on a base. The slider touches
the path, and bears the weight of a Super-structure. The path
with non-fixed curvature can be a smoothly curved surface.
And, a layer of ductile material with high compressibility is
attached to the slider and placed between the slider and the
path of non-fixed curvature. Therefore, when an earthquake
occurs, the slider will slide on the path of non-fixed curva
ture to produce a seismic isolation effect for the Super
structure. At the same time, this invention increases loading
capacity of the isolator, and prevents resonance with low
frequency earthquakes.
US 2007/0044395 A1
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
0011. The present invention will be better understood by
referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
0012 FIG. 1 is a side view of the first preferred embodi
ment of a seismic isolator according to the present invention,
0013 FIG. 2 is a side view of the second preferred
embodiment,
0014 FIG.3 is a side view of the third preferred embodi
ment,
0015 FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the third embodi
ment,
0016 FIG. 5 is a view showing the first way to join the
ductile material and the slider,
0017 FIG. 6 is a view showing the second way to join the
ductile material and the slider,
0018 FIG. 7 is a view showing the third way to join the
ductile material and the slider,
0.019 FIG. 8 is a view showing the fourth way to join the
ductile material and the slider,
0020 FIG. 9 compares the frequency response curves of
the invention and the conventional bearing,
0021 FIG. 10 compares acceleration responses over a
period of time under the effect of low-frequency pulse
waves, for the present invention and the conventional iso
lator,
0022 FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship
between the shear and isolator displacement of the present
invention, based on theoretical and experimental results,
0023 FIG. 12 is a side view of the first conventional
sliding bearing,
0024 FIG. 13 compares the frequency response curves of
the first conventional sliding bearing with that of a fixed base
Structure,
0.025 FIG. 14 is a side view of the second conventional
sliding bearing, and
0026 FIG. 15 is a side view of the third conventional
sliding bearing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
0027. Referring to FIG. 1, a first preferred embodiment 1
of a seismic isolator in the present invention includes a path
with non-fixed curvature, a slider 11 for bearing the weight
of a Super-structure, e.g. building, bridge, common civil
structure, facility, storage tank, and pipeline, and a layer of
ductile material 12 with high compressibility and low fric
tion coefficient. In the present embodiment, the path with
non-fixed curvature can be a smoothly curved surface 10,
which can be made of stainless Steel, metallic materials,
metallic compound materials, synthetic materials or fibrous
materials. The layer of ductile material 12 is placed between
the smoothly curved surface 10 and the slider 11, and it can
be made of high polymer materials such as plastic steel, and
UPE, etc. When the slider 11 moves to a certain point on the
curved surface 10, the layer of ductile material 12 will
change shape accordingly, so the slider 11 can closely
Mar. 1, 2007
contact the curved surface 10; thus, the bearing stress will be
uniformly distributed and stress concentration of the parts of
the seismic isolator can be prevented. The radius of curva
ture of the curved surface 10 varies with position of the
slider 11. The slider 11 will move on the curved surface 10
with non-fixed curvature when an earthquake occurs.
Because the radius of curvature of the curved surface 10
isn't a fixed value, the present seismic isolator doesn’t have
a fixed isolation frequency, and in turn the seismic isolator
will not be resonant with low-frequency components of an
earthquake.
0028. The curved surface 10 can be a continuous math
ematical function with single variable or two variables, and
the first derivative of the continuous mathematical function
can be a continuous or non-continuous one. The curved
surface 10 is placed on a base 13, which can be a three
dimensional curved plate or a two-dimensional curved bar
with a certain thickness. Assuming that the curved surface
10 is axially symmetric about y-axis, a cross-sectional curve
of the curved surface 10 can be represented by the following
function:
y=y(x) (1)
0029 where y(x) represents the elevation function of the
curved plate. If the displacement of the slider 11 is x, the
restoring force provided to the slider 11 by the curved
Surface, u(X), can be obtained by the following formula:
u(x) =- ww.
W-- = Wy(x) (2)
0030 wherein y'(x) represents the first derivative of y(x)
with respect to X, and W represents the weight of the
super-structure. The above formula shows that u(x), the
restoring force, is proportional to the first derivative of y(x),
the elevation function of the curved plate. At the same time,
the instantaneous restoring stiffness of the bearing, k(X), can
be represented by the following formula:
dur(v),
dy = Wy”(x) (3)
0031 wherein y'(x) is the second derivative of y(x) with
respect to X. The above formula shows that the instantaneous
restoring stiffness k(X), is proportional to the second deriva
tive of the elevation function of the curved plate, y(x). And,
instantaneous isolation frequency of the bearing, ()(X), can
be derived from formula (3):
(4)
0032 wherein m represents the mass of the super-struc
ture above the isolation system, and g represents gravita
tional acceleration. The last formula shows that the instan
taneous isolation frequency (DCX) is proportional to the
square root of the second derivative of y(x). According to
formulas (3) and (4), the restoring stiffness and the isolation
US 2007/0044395 A1
frequency of the present seismic isolator do vary with X, the
bearing displacement. Because there is no fixed isolation
frequency, the present isolator can’t be resonant with a
low-frequency earthquake.
0033 Referring to FIG. 2, a second preferred embodi
ment of a seismic isolator is provided, which includes a
lower bearing member 13, a semispherical slider 11 Sup
ported on the lower bearing member 13, an upper bearing
member 14, and a ductile material 12 is filled in between the
semispherical slider 11 and the curved surface 10 on the
lower bearing member 13. The upper bearing member 14 is
joined to a lower side of a Super-structure 2 by means of
bolts 141, and it is formed with an articulated ball-shaped
recess 142 on a lower side thereof. The lower bearing
member 13 is joined to a structure base 15. The semispheri
cal slider 11 is rotatably held in the articulated ball-shaped
recess 142 of the upper bearing member 14. The ductile
material 12 has high compressibility and low friction coef
ficient, and it can slide on the curved surface 10, whose
radius of curvature isn't a fixed value, in order to produce
isolation effect. The lower bearing member 13 can be a
three-dimensional curved plate or a two-dimensional curved
bar with a certain thickness; if the lower bearing member 13
is a three-dimensional curved plate, the curved surface 10
can be a mathematical function of two variables or a curved
Surface axially symmetric about a vertical axis.
0034) Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a third preferred
embodiment of a seismic isolator is provided, which
includes a lower bearing member 13, a semispherical slider
11 supported on the lower bearing member 13, an upper
bearing member 14, a bearing member 16, and a ductile
material 12 sandwiched between the semispherical slider 11
and the curved surface 10 on the lower bearing member 13.
The upper bearing member 14 is joined to a lower side of a
super-structure 2 by means of bolts 141, and it has a screw
hole 143 on a lower side. The bearing member 16 is formed
with screw threads 161, and an articulated ball-shaped recess
163 on a lower end thereof. The bearing member 16 is
placed on the semispherical slider 11 at the lower end, and
it is joined to the lower side of the upper bearing member 14
with the screw threads 161 being threadedly engaged with
the screw hole 143. A nut 162 is used to secure the bearing
member 16 in position. Therefore, the height of the upper
bearing member 14 can be adjusted by means of turning the
bearing member 16 relative to the upper bearing member 14.
The lower-bearing member 13 is joined to a structure base
15. The semispherical slider 11 is rotatably held in the
articulated ball-shaped recess 163 of the bearing member 16.
The ductile material 12 has high compressibility and low
friction coefficient, and it can slide on the curved surface 10,
whose radius of curvature isn't fixed, to produce isolation
effect. The lower bearing member 13 can be a three
dimensional curved plate or a two-dimensional curved bar
with a certain thickness; if the lower bearing member 13 is
a three-dimensional curved plate, the curved plate 10 can be
a mathematical function with two variables or a curved
Surface axially symmetric about a vertical axis.
0035) Furthermore, in order to increase the shear strength
of the ductile material 12, the ductile material 12 can be
directly fitted in the slider 11, as shown in FIG. 5, or the
slider 11 can be equipped with a shear key 111 in a middle
portion, as shown in FIG. 6. Or alternatively, the slider 11
can be equipped with several shear keys 112 as shown in
Mar. 1, 2007
FIG. 7. Or alternatively, a confinement ring 113 is positioned
around the slider 11 in an up and down movable manner to
confine the ductile material 12, as shown in FIG. 8, such that
compressibility and shear strength of the ductile material 12
can be increased.
0036 FIG. 9 is a frequency response function, a graph
that shows the relationship between the maximum structural
acceleration and the excitation frequency of the ground. In
FIG. 9, a comparison is made between the present invention
and the conventional sliding isolation bearing, wherein the
horizontal axis is the ground excitation frequency, the ver
tical axis the maximum structural acceleration, the natural
frequency of the structure 1.67 Hz, the isolation frequency
of the conventional isolation bearing 0.4 Hz, and the friction
coefficient is 0.1. From FIG. 9, it can be easily seen that
unlike the conventional isolation bearing, the present Seis
mic isolator does not have a resonance frequency under a
particular excitation frequency. In other words, low-fre
quency resonance is avoided in the present invention; mean
while, the present invention can reduce vibration as effec
tively as the prior art in high frequency area. In addition,
referring to FIG. 10, another comparison is made between
the structural acceleration responses of the present invention
and the prior art adopting the conventional sliding isolation
bearing structure Subjected to a near-fault earthquake with
low-frequency pulse waves. From FIG. 10, it can be seen
that the present invention has a much better vibration
reducing effect than the conventional bearing.
0037. Furthermore, the present invention has been proven
feasible through experiments. Referring to FIG. 11, which
includes two graphs showing the relationship between the
shear and the displacement of the invention (i.e., hysteresis
loop of energy dissipation), based on theoretical and experi
mental results, respectively. Therefore, comparison can be
made between theoretical values and experimental values,
which are obtained by a cyclic test; the horizontal axis is the
displacement of the seismic isolator, and the vertical axis is
the horizontal shear force, which the seismic isolator is
subjected to. The theoretical values shown in part (b) of FIG.
11 are obtained through using formula (2) shown above. It
can be seen that the experimental values closely match the
theoretical values, proving the feasibility of the present
invention.
0038. From the above description, it can be understood
that when compared with the conventional seismic isolation
system, the technology of the present invention has advan
tages as followings:
0039) 1. When the present invention is adopted, the
isolation frequency and restoring stiffness vary with the
displacement of the bearing. Therefore, there is not a fixed
isolation frequency, and the resonance between the seismic
isolator and a low-frequency earthquake can be prevented.
In other words, isolation frequency varies with the isolator
displacement as well as varying with earthquake intensity,
and the present invention can function effectively in earth
quakes with different seismic frequency contents, and won't
resonate with earthquakes.
0040 2. The sliding surface is neither single-point con
tact nor multiple-points contact therefore there won't be
excessive stress concentration that may cause material yield
ing and damage. And loading capacity of the bearing can be
increased.
US 2007/0044395 A1
What is claimed is:
1. A seismic isolator with variable curvature, comprising
a smoothly curved Surface with non-fixed curvature posi
tioned between a base and a Super-structure;
a slider positioned between the base and the super
structure, and touching the Smoothly curved Surface;
and
a layer of ductile material with high compressibility
positioned between the smoothly curved surface and
the slider;
whereby the slider will slide on the smoothly curved
surface with non-fixed curvature to produce vibration
isolation effect for the super-structure when an earth
quake occurs.
2. A seismic isolator with variable curvature, comprising
a path with non-fixed curvature positioned between a base
and a Super-structure;
a slider positioned between the base and the super
structure, and touching the path; and
a layer of ductile material with high compressibility
positioned between the path and the slider;
whereby the slider will slide on the path with non-fixed
curvature to produce vibration isolation effect for the
Super-structure when an earthquake occurs.
3. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as claimed
in claim 1, wherein the curved surface is positioned on the
base, and the slider bears weight of the super-structure.
4. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as claimed
in claim 1, wherein the curved surface bears weight of the
Super-structure, and the slider is positioned on the base.
5. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as claimed
in claim 1, wherein the base is a three-dimensional curved
plate.
6. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as claimed
in claim 1, wherein the base is a two-dimensional curved bar
with a certain thickness.
7. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as claimed
in claim 1; wherein the smoothly curved surface is a
continuous mathematical function.
8. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as claimed
in claim 1, wherein the smoothly curved surface is axially
symmetric about a central axis.
Mar. 1, 2007
9. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as claimed
in claim 1, wherein the slider works together with a bearing
member adjustable in height, and it is connected to the
super-structure with help of the bearing member.
10. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the slider is semispherical, and
it is received in an articulated ball-shaped recess to be
connected with the Super-structure.
11. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as
claimed in claim 10, wherein the articulated ball-shaped
recess is formed on a bearing member adjustable in height.
12. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the ductile material is high
polymer.
13. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the ductile material is a metallic
OC.
14. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the ductile material is fitted in
the slider.
15. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as
claimed in claim 1, wherein shear keys are formed on a joint
between the ductile material and the slider.
16. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as
claimed in claim 1, wherein a confinement ring is positioned
around an edge of a joint between the ductile material and
the slider.
17. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the Super-structure is a civil
engineering structure.
18. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the Super-structure is a facility.
19. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the smoothly curved surface is
a machined metallic material.
20. The seismic isolator with variable curvature as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the smoothly curved surface is
a synthetic material with high hardness and low friction
coefficient.